Welcome, skybound adventurer! This quest sets up your first cloud account, installs a cloud CLI, and teaches safe, low-cost exploration techniques so you can start building without surprise bills.
π― Quest Objectives
Primary Objectives (Required for Quest Completion)
- Create a Cloud Account - Choose AWS, Azure, or GCP
- Install a Cloud CLI - Authenticate and verify your access
- Deploy a Tiny Resource - Provision a minimal VM or storage bucket
- Tear It Down Safely - Avoid cost leaks by cleaning up
Bonus Objectives (Optional)
- Remember to enable MFA and alerts
- Explore free-tier services and limits
πΊοΈ Quest Prerequisites
π Knowledge Requirements
- Basic command-line usage
- Familiarity with accounts and billing dashboards
π οΈ System Requirements
- Stable internet connection
- Email + phone number for cloud signup
π Choose Your Adventure Platform
Pick one provider for your first run. You can expand later.
- AWS: Great general-purpose cloud with rich services
- Azure: Strong Microsoft ecosystem + enterprise focus
- GCP: Clean developer experience + strong data tooling
This quest includes GCP helper scripts for a low-friction start.
π§ββοΈ Chapter 1: Account Setup & Safety
- Create your account in your chosen provider.
- Enable MFA and set a billing alert.
- Confirm free-tier services and limits.
π§° Chapter 2: Install a Cloud CLI (GCP Example)
From this directory, review and run the helper scripts:
./gcp/gcp-start.sh
./gcp/gcloud-cs.sh
Verify authentication:
gcloud auth list
gcloud config list
βοΈ Chapter 3: Launch a Tiny Resource
Use the provided VM startup script (GCP example):
./gcp/vm-startup.sh
Validate that the VM is created and running.
π§Ή Chapter 4: Tear Down & Clean Up
Always remove the resources you created:
gcloud compute instances list
gcloud compute instances delete <instance-name>
If you created other resources, remove them now to avoid charges.
π Quest Completion Checklist
- Cloud account created with MFA enabled
- Billing alerts configured
- CLI installed and authenticated
- Small resource created and deleted